Four games is way too early to put any player near the top of the NBA's MVP conversation, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is making it hard to look away.

"I love when it's tough; I thrive when it's tough," Antetokounmpo yelled to a lively Fiserv Forum crowd. "When you make it tough, I thrive."

The Milwaukee Bucks host the New York Knicks for first time after an offseason report that Giannis Antetokounmpo was interested in trade. Follow for live game updates.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak as Ex-Laker Shaq Has a Shocking Opinion on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Shaquille O’Neal’s resume is impressive enough for the Los Angeles Lakers legend to claim he’s one of the best players at the center position in NBA history.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledged the Milwaukee Bucks’ first meeting with the New York Knicks meant more to him than a typical regular-season game. The two-time MVP said it was about changing the Bucks’ recent history of frustration in this series.